Chalky, Shirt & Lupine...
...Went in 2 by 2
(Guest Starring Tigger)
Something rather strange had occurred. Dufus was confused (but then that didn't signify anything that unusual) and Shirt was flabbergasted. Lupine had been in Finland and so didn't even know.
Chalky had got a girlfriend!
I know!! Chalky couldn't really believe it either.
Even stranger was the fact that this female-type woman wanted to accompany the gang on one of their many jaunts the East End of London.
Unfortunately for her, the next signing was to be at the What Shop. Shirt hoped, beyond hope, that this would put her off Chalky.
It didn't (just for the record :-))
Tigger, this being her name, arranged to meet the lads at Victoria. The signing being attended was featuring the one and only Philip Hinchcliffe (in a bizarre twist of reality after Chalky and Shirt had spent many a signing queue winding up Dufus by text message with promises of a Hinchcliffe signing at 7th Galaxy).
In fact a simultaneous signing was occurring at 7th Galaxy, flogging the same The Ark in Space DVD, but featuring (the now rather ubiquitous) Tom Baker. The gang had decided to forego their rather half-hearted boycott of the What Shop to gain the signature of someone they hadn't already met - which was becoming a bit of rarity.
Shirt and Chalky found themselves stuck on a slow train (Dufus being indisposed due to his 'Yes I Am/No I'm Not' move to Birmingham) and Shirt muttered bitterly as Tigger rang Chalky to find out where her beau was. Arriving in Victoria but minutes later, Shirt muttered even more bitterly as he realised he was going to be unable to deny Tigger's existence for the same amount of time as he had Enigma's.
Eventually the trio reached the What Shop and were utterly flabbergasted to find Lupine already standing within the shop. After brief greetings between Lupine and Tigger, the gang bought the required DVD (and nothing else, maintaining at least some of their half-hearted boycott) and made to queue up outside in the glorious surroundings of East Ham.
As the queuing wore on, Tigger was exposed (oo-er) to the machinations of Shirt, attempting to find surreptitious (and not so surreptitious) ways of putting his arm around her. As the conversation turned to inane Who fan chatter, Tigger found solace in the fact that Lupine (for his sins) is also an Angel fan and that she wouldn't have to stand for an hour in ignorant (yet adoring) silence.
Soon the queue was moving and seeing as the What Shop is not known for its great length of queue, the gang found themselves inside not long after. Tigger waited outside, due to the shop's cramped conditions and the gang moved on to meet Mr. Hinchcliffe. Chalky decided, as he had brought along his Terror of the Zygons cover, to repeat his anecdote about showing the story to his class of 10 and 11 year old chimpanzees. Having got such a enthusiastic response from Elisabeth Sladen, Chalky was most disappointed when Mr. Hinchcliffe seemed underwhelmed that one of his grand opuses had been seen by a new generation of slavering young fans. After a half-hearted discussion about the Skarasen (which Mr. Hinchcliffe admitted was a terrible effect but had found out too late to change it) Chalky moved on and Shirt and Lupine moved through with their items (sneakily breaking the 1 item only rule when the attendant had his back turned).
With DVD signed, Chalky joined Tigger outside to find that she had been accosted by a smelly local. In a daring fit of protective jealousy Chalky whisked Tigger to safety whilst simultaneously punching the smelly local's (and his fifteen mates') lights out. After a passionate kiss of gratitude, Chalky and Tigger returned to the humdrum company of Shirt and Lupine.
(Okay, it might not have happened exactly like this, but you get the drift...)
The gang decided to pop up to 7th Galaxy to compare length of queues (oo-er) and see if the latest instalment of the Large Endings Excelis Trilogy had been released yet. Alas it hadn't, but whilst the lads were in the shop, Tigger wandered off to some girly shops.
The boys weren't too worried though, as a (rare) female fan was strolling around the shop wearing a Leela costume...and very little else. After a brief discussion about the faux Leela's briefs (or lack of them) they attempted to find Tigger who had seemingly disappeared from the shopping centre.
Eventually, much to Shirt's chagrin, she returned and the gang made their way to the local eatery for sustenance.
Despite a tempting offer to return to Tigger's flat, Lupine said his goodbyes and allowed Shirt to play gooseberry whilst watching 'I Love the Muppets' with Tigger and Chalky.
Tigger, was now no longer a signing virg......
[AE]